Over 100 students from more than a dozen schools in Anglophone West School District participated in a recent chess tournament at Bliss Carman Middle School in Fredericton, challenging the critical thinking skills of players from all levels.

Competitions were held in three divisions for Grades 3-6, Grades 7-8 and Grades 9-12 with medals awarded to the top chess champs. The goals of the school tournament were to ensure students have a positive experience and promote the game of chess through an open competition among players from across the Fredericton and Oromocto areas. Top qualifiers will move on to the provincials. Chess is a popular two-player strategy board game played by millions of people worldwide. It is a game known to exercise the brain, increase creativity, improve memory and potentially increase a player's IQ.

Photos below: (1) Medal winners Tom Wielemaker, Yang Yi, and Tal Tepfer, Grade 7-8 champs at Bliss Carman Middle School; (2) Nick Paquette, Olive Crowell, Daniella Duguay, Henry Boyer, Liam DeLorey, Shea Wiseman, Cooper Pickard and Liam Palk, Garden Creek Elementary. (3) Nick Paquette, Garden Creek Elementary, Jacob Connor, Royal Road Elementary.